Oscillatory metering chamber dispenser for small containers



Jan. 1951 R. M STRACHAN OSCILLATORY METERING CHAMBER DISPENSER FOR SMALL CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 15, 1945 By W Patented Jan. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE OSCILLATORY METERING CHAMBER DIS- PEN SER FOR. SMALL CONTAINERS Application February 13, 1945, Serial No. 577,673

This invention relates to improvements in dispensers and has for its object to provide a dispenser for delivering a measured quantity of powdered or granular material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container for tooth powder or the like upon which is attached a measuring dispenser.

A further object of the invention is to provide a scoop shaped cylindzr having a pair of arouately formed closure members between which is a measuring pocket.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of my device,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of one member of the device,

Figure 3 is a similar view of another member thereof,

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse section of the device shown attached to a can, and

Figur 5 is a similar view, one of the parts being shown in changed position.

In the accompanying drawings as above enumerated and in the following specification, like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout and in which It indicates a dispensing can having an outlet ll therein directly above which is mounted by measuring dispenser |2, which is secured to the can by soldering or in any other suitable manner. ll'he member l2 consists of a s mi-cylindrical member |3 having end walls M and I5 provided with apertures l8 and IT, for supporting the terminals I8 and ill of a shaft 20, carried by a pivoted measuring and dispensing member 2|. This member comprises a plate 22, the upper end 23 of which projects above the edges 24 and 25 of the walls M and i5 and forms a lever whereby the member 2| may be manipulated. To the lower end 2% of the member 22 is integrally attached an arcuate segmental extension 21 having a right angular flange 28 adapted to engage the edge 29 of the member 3, the wall 30 of said member l3 being reduced in length in order to provide an outlet 3| for material which has been deposited in the pocket 32, formed between the wall of the member 22, and the wall 33 connected to the wall 22, at approximately the pivot point 34 of the member 22, said wall 33, being inclin:d away 1 Claim. (Cl. 222 3 63) which is a segment of from the wall 22, in order to provide said pocket 32, which pocket normally seats by gravity directly over the outlet |l, of member ID. The terminal 31 of member 35 carries a member 36 From the above dzscription it will be obvious.

that as the center of gravity of the member 2| is substantially directly below the pivot 20 when the member 2i is positioned as shown in Figure 4, said member 2 i; will maintain itself in a position to normally keep the pocket 32, in position to receive a load from the'container Ill. The space 32, is such as to hold a desired quantity of the contents of the can l0, when the latter is held in upside down position.

An intelligent reading of the above description will clearly indicate how the member 2| may be manipulated to allow the metered loading of material into the pocket 32 and subsequent unloading of this metered quantity of material through the opening 3|, the member 2| being moved in relation to the can either directly by the finger or by tilting the can. It will also be clear how the segment 36 will close the outlet while the material is being dispensed through the opening 3|. The normal position of the member 2| when the can is upright is illustrated in Figure 4. The discharging position of this member is illustrated in Figure 5. The operators finger may be used to hold the member in either of these positions relative to the can, or the can may be tilted to move the member 2| into either of these positions relative to the can, since the center of gravity of the member 2| is not at the pivot 29. To operate the device without applying the fing' r to the member 2|, the can is tilted counter-clockwise from the vertical position shown in Figure 4 until the material from the can fills the pocket 32. With the can still maintained in inverted or semi-inverted position, the can may now be rotated about the longitudinal axis thereof and the member 2| will rotate on the axis 20 to allow the discharge of the metered quantity of material through the opening 3| onto a toothbrush or the like held below the opening 3|.

In the procedure described immediately above, the device is tilted counterclockwise from the position indicated in Figure 4 because of the flange 28.

While the above device may be used for dispensing any powderzd or granular material I have demonstrated it in the accompanying drawings as a dispenser of tooth powder and in this case the pocket 32 is of a suitable dimension to a cylinder and is adapted to comprise a stopper for the outlet when the hold a desired quantity of tooth powder to be deposited upon a toothbrush the member 22 being approximately the length of the brush.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details and parts such as come within the purview of the invention claimedmay' beresorted to, in actual practice, if desired.

Having now described my invention that which I claim as new and desire to procure by'Letters" Patent is:

A metering and dispensing device secured to a container having an outlet, comprising a semi-cylindrical member having an opening and secured to the container so that said outlet registers with said opening, opposing end walls on said member, a measuring member comprising a pair of diverging similar plates connected together and cooperating with said end walls to provide a pocket, said plates being mounted on 4 closely within said semi-cylindrical member, a flange on the outer edge of one of said arcuate plate members to engage an outer edge of the semi-cylindrical member when the measuring member is in pocket loading position to assure proper registration of the pocket with said opening, and a lever comprising an extension of one of said diverging plates and dimensioned to engage the opposite edge of the semi-cylindrical member when the measuring member is shifted into a discharging position with the mouth of the pocket disposed beyond the first mentioned edge of the semi-cylindrical member.

ROBERT M. STRACHAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 352,925 Mathews Nov. 23, 1886 978,988 Cunningham 1 Dec. 20, 1910 1,278,841 Brand Sept. 17, 1918 1,368,270 Lissman Feb. 15, 1921 1,577,235 Hucks -2--- Mar. 16, 1926 1,710,233 Mason et al. Apr. 23, 1929 1,720,096 Schofi'eld- July 9, 1929 1,853,493 Bell Apr. 12, 1932 1,996,041 Green Mar; 26, 1935 

